TRAUMATIC ISOLATED PERICARDIO-DIAPHRAGMATIC RUPTURE

Pericardio-diaphragmatic rupture is an uncommon problem that poses a diagnostic challenge to surgeons. This article reports an unusual case of traumatic pericardio-diaphragmatic rupture in a 36-year-old male who has no additional intraabdominal visceral injury or thoracic pathology. There was a 7 cm lateral tear on the left dome of the diaphragm and a 2 cm medial tear, also involving pericardio-diaphragmatic junction, with the heart uninjured. The partially herniated stomach was easily pulled out from the thorax cavity through the diaphragmatic rupture. The rupture was reparied by interrupted non-absorbable sutures. The patient had no complaints on his follow up.